News Broadcasting
ITV celebrates 50th birthday in May
MUMBAI: UK commercial network ITV will celebrate its 50th anniversary in May be entering the Rose d’Or Hall of Fame.
The channel will be hosting its 50th Anniversary Press launch event and dinner at the Rose d’Or Festival in Lucerne, to launch its celebrations and special anniversary programmes. The Rose d’Or Festival runs from 3 – 8 May 2005 in Lucerne, Switzerland.
To start the festivities ITV will be inducted into the Rose d’Or Hall of Fame in the presence of ITV programme director Nigel Pickard, ITV executives and ITV stars. The honour recognises ITV’s achievements as the most popular broadcaster and producer in Britain since its first transmission, back in 1955. The channel has made soaps and entertainment shows as well as the prestigious and influential South Bank Show.
Pickard says, “It’s a great honour for ITV to be inducted into the Rose d’Or Hall of Fame, especially in this our 50th year. This year’s festival provides us with the perfect backdrop for unveiling our anniversary plans and we are very much looking forward to the event in Lucerne.”
Rose d’Or CEO Georges Luks said,” The Hall of Fame is where we honour those who have made the greatest contribution to the industry, the most creative, the most original and the most successful. We are privileged to see ITV join the roll call of honour in the Rose d’Or Hall of Fame, in well deserved recognition of ITV’s fantastic 50 years of broadcasting and its unparalleled editorial achievements.”
A popular television show that will be inducted into the Hall of Fame is Monty Python’s Flying Circus. Considered by some to be the most innovative cult television show of all time Monty Python’s Flying Circus was and remains a phenomenon.
On the BBC for four seasons between 1969 and 1974, the total of 45 episodes were the showcase for classic scenes such as Dead Parrot and The Lumberjack Song which are considered seminal milestones in the history of comedy, both by industry practitioners and viewers alike.
Meanwhile Sir Bob Geldof will recieve this year’s Rose d’Or Charity Award which will be presented in remembrance of the late actor Sir Peter Ustinov. Geldof’s is being recognised for his passionate determination to take action in the face of human suffering. He created Live Aid, the greatest fund raising concert ever, which commemorates its 20th Anniversary on July 13th 2005.
Throughout his career Geldorf has highlighted political solutions to the global issues of poverty and disease. Calling upon governments to cancel third world debt and acting as a passionate advocate of Nelson Mandela’s fight against Aids, Geldof’s activism, fight against global inequity and compassion have earned him this tribute
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 rolls out Battle for the States ahead of key polls
Multi-format election coverage tracks voter mood across five battleground states
NEW DELHI: CNN-News18 has launched a special election programming initiative titled Battle for the States, as India gears up for high-stakes Assembly elections across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry.
Built around the theme ‘Road to Power’, the multi-format coverage aims to follow the entire electoral journey, from campaigning and polling to results and government formation. The network is leaning into on-ground reportage and data-backed storytelling to decode voter sentiment across regions where local issues often shape the narrative.
The programming line-up includes ‘Vote Tracker’, a three-part series developed in collaboration with survey agency Vote Vibe. The show blends survey insights with expert commentary and field reporting, using augmented reality graphics to present complex electoral data such as vote share, seat projections and leadership preferences in a more accessible format. It will air every Monday evening until April 6.
Adding a cultural lens to political reporting is ‘So Saree!’, a ground-driven segment where women anchors travel across constituencies dressed in traditional handwoven sarees from each state. The format uses attire as a storytelling device, highlighting regional identity while capturing grassroots voices.
Meanwhile, ‘Unfiltered Kaapi’ and ‘Chai-Niti’ bring a more conversational tone, drawing inspiration from everyday political discussions in tea stalls and coffee corners. These segments aim to break down key issues through candid, fast-paced exchanges between anchors and reporters, tailored to regional sensibilities.
For viewers seeking deeper insights, the weekend docuseries ‘Reporters Project’ takes a longer view, with correspondents travelling across constituencies to map voter concerns and political shifts on the ground.
“Elections are about people, their aspirations, identities and the issues that matter to them, and every state tells a different story,” said CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar. He added that the initiative focuses on understanding “the sentiment on the ground and what’s driving voter choices”.
Echoing the emphasis on credibility, Network18 CEO – English and business news Smriti Mehra said the network aims to combine on-ground reporting with data-led insights to deliver clear and timely coverage as the elections unfold.
With a mix of data, culture and grassroots reporting, CNN-News18 is positioning Battle for the States as a comprehensive window into one of India’s most closely watched electoral cycles, where every vote carries a story waiting to be told.
